Collapsible drinking cup



F. R. CURTISS 2,645,913

COLLAPSIBLE DRINKING CUP Filed Oct. 15, 1947 I51, ,2/ l0 l5 ,2;

July 21, 1953 1N VEN TOR.

.i F RANKR. Emznss BY 6 ATTORNEY has the characteristic known as plastic memory, i. e., it will tend to return to its original molded shape following a deformation from said shape, and during such deformation it will be under tension. Thus, the bight portion I8 integrally connected between the walls II and I2, as well as the connecting hinge portions integrally connecting the end walls to the front and side walls, and the connecting hinge portion integrally connecting the closure flap to the wall I2, each constitute a flexible resilient hinge normally self-biased open. Then to collapse the cup the walls II and I2 are pressed toward one another and the gussets or end walls I3 and; I 4

are collapsed or folded, as on the lines I1 and I8. These lines vertically bisect such= end walls and thus, as the walls II and I2 are movedtoward. one another, by flexin of the material of which the cup is made, the portions of the end walls I3 and I4 at opposite vertical sides of the lines I1 and I8 are folded on one another. These end walls collapse inwardly or into the space between the front and rear walls .II and I2. H ,7

Now the closure flap I5 is folded over so that the hook-like portions, I9 and 20, are passed through the perforations or holes ,2I and22 of the flap. This secures thecup ,in its folded or collapsed condition. Because the cup was molded in open position, its :front and rear walls II and I2 are constantlytending to move away from one another. This causesa relative movement or tendency toward a relative movement between the flap I5 and thehook-like lugs I9 and 20 so that the edges of the holes 2I and are drawn up against the neck-like portions of the hooks or lugs I9 and 20 and under the heads or hook portions of such lugs. This is as fully illustratedin Fig. 5. With thisconstruction, it will be clear that while the cup is constantly tending to expand or open as to the position of Fig. 1, whenthe cup has been collapsed and the closure, flap is over the hook-like lugs I9 and 20, the closure flap together with said hook-like lugs constitutes means holding the cup in folded or collapsed condition. t

With the cup in this condition it is relatively flat, as seenin Fig. 4, and may be conveniently carried in the pocketrof .a garment. Where the cup is being carried by a hunter, there are no metallic parts to-rattle or clink or make other metallic sounds such as, would frighten game. The cup being of plastic, it has no tendency to ring even if struck by an object and so is particularly desirable for use by hunters or other outdoorsmen. V I a 7 When the cup is to be used, it is merely necessary to press the front and rear walls II and I2 toward one another to release the tension on the flap I5 whereupon the flap may be released from the hook-like lugs I9 and 20 and the cup will then spring to open position ready for use. It is not necessary to pry open parts of the cup and when the cup is in use, it has no tendency tocollapse or fold. Such tendency would have to be constantly watched and guarded against as otherhook-like lugs I9 and- 4 maining portion of the flap is shown as relatively thick and, in fact, as thick as or substantially as thick as the front and rear walls I I and I2. This provides a flap of substantial strength so that the edges of the openings 2I and 22 will not become torn out due to repeated hooking and unhooking over the lugs I9 and and due to the strain imposed on the connection between the lugs and the edges of the openings by the continuous tendency of the 'front and rear walls II and I2 to move apart, as above described.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a slight modification. However, in these figures, the parts are for the most part the same as those previously described and therefore have been given the same reference numbers. In Figs. 6 and 7, the cup is generally designated 25 and in such cup a metal spring 28 has been molded into the cup. This spring comprises a fiat piece of stock bent upon itself whereby it includes a front arm 21, a rear arm 28, and

.a curved connecting portion located in the bight Ilia between the front and-rear walls of the cup. The spring molded in place so that its front and rear arms are, embedded in the front and rear walls Ila and I2a of the cup 25 and its connecting portion is embedded in the connectin portion or bight Ilia of said cup.

With the cup of Figs. 6 and '7, the metal spring 26 will constantly be tending to move the walls I la and I29 apart so as to open thecup, spreading the end walls Or gussets like and Ila. When the metal spring 26 is molded into the cup walls, it will be clear that the metal spring is notexposed to the weather and is not exposed to water placed in the cup. Additionally, withthls construction, the metal spring may be depended upon to open the cup whenever the closure flap I5 .is released from the hook-like lugs I9 and".

,rear walls II and I2 are of relatively stiff, heavy material while the gussets or end walls I3 and I4 are of thinner or lighter construction and'of the same material. That is, this cup 30 will be molded of a suitable plastic as described when considering the firs't'figures of the drawing.

The difference between the first described structure and the structure of the modification resides essentially in the construction of the closure. flap in such manner that when the'cup is in use; this flap may be used as a handle. For wateror the like, the handle is probably of no importance, but if the cup is to be used to contain hot coffee or any'other hot drink, then the handle permits of manipulation of the cup in comfort and without danger of burning or injuring the hands.

Thus, in the modification, a button or headed stud or hook-like lug 3I is formed on or molded to the front wall II of the cup at a considerable distance from the upper edge thereof. A second button or stud 32 is molded with or to the rear wall I2 ofthe cup and while at a considerable distance from the upper edge of the wall, this second headed stud 'or hook-like lug 32 is nearer to the-mid-portion of said wall than is the stud 3| which is actually toward theilower end of the front wall I I. A closure flap 33 for the cup 30 mately as wide asare the front and rear walls of the cup whereby when thefcup is collapsed and the flap is secured in placeglthe entire upper end of the cup is covered. I i

When the cup is being carriedin the. pocket or the like, the flap 33 is in: closed position extending across the upper'end'o fgthe cup and the cup is collapsed with itsfront and,rearwallsadjacent and with the end gussets foldedbetween said walls. At this time, arr-opening -3liri'nthe flap is buttoned or hooked overthe headed stud 3| so that the cup is held closed or collapsed in the same manner that the cup It is held closed or collapsed when the flap l5 is'hooked over the lugs I 9 and-20. At this time,,the collapsed :cup might be carried in the pocket or it may "be "carried on the belt by slipping'the-belt through the space: designated 31 betweenthe buttoned flap 33 and the front wall of the cup., a 1

When the cup is to be used, the flap is released from the stud 3|. Then due to the resilience in the material of the cup and to the manner in which it is conformed and to the thicker, stiffer construction of the front and rear walls, the cup will automatically open as described with reference to the first figures of the drawing. Then as long as the flap is out of the way, the cup may be readily used to hold cool or cold liquids and at such time, the body of the cup may be held in the hand. However, for hot coffee or other hot liquids, it is preferred that the closure be doubled over as in Fig. 8 or as per the dotted lines of Fig. 9 and then the opening 35 in the free end portion of the flap is hooked or buttoned over the stud 32 whereby the closure or flap is in a sort of bowed condition, as suggested in the drawing, and constitutes a handle by means of which the cup may be manipulated.

Aside from the thinned portion 34, the flap 33 is relatively stiff so that the opening 36 will not tear out as the flap is buttoned or hooked or unbuttoned or unhoo-ked at different times from the studs 3| and 32. This construction also helps provide for a relatively stiff handle whereby the cup may be conveniently manipulated by the handle when the flap is fastened over the stud 32.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A collapsible drinking cup comprising a body including front and rear walls connected at their lower ends and end walls connecting and closing the space between the edges of said front and rear walls, said end walls when said cup is open comprising gusset-like members, said end walls foldable upon themselves whereby the front and rear walls may be collapsed toward one another, a

closure flap carried by said rear wall and of a length to extend a substantial distance along said front wall when said cup is collapsed, a lug on said front wall in substantially spaced relation to the upper end thereof and over which said flap may be hooked when the cup is collapsed and said flap is substantially parallel with said wall, and a second lug on the rear wall of the cup but spaced above the first lug and over which said flap may be hooked when in a bower condition whereby to form a handle for said cup.

2. A collapsible drinking cup comprising in- 6 teg'rai front and rear walls angularly diverging from their lower ends whenthe-cup is open,'substantially wedge-shaped gusset-like end walls integral with the edges of said front a'ridrear walls; each of said walls comprising a single thickness of material and-said frontand rearwalls thicker and'stifler than said end walls, said ndwalls rel-' ative1y' thin and flexible whereby saidf-font and rear 'walls normally tend to swing-away from one another whereby said cup is normally' openand whereby said-endwallsare foldable dn-Wardly upon-themselves substantially along thelrlOr'ig'itudinal medial lines whereby the front and r'e'ai' walls maybe collapsed toward one-another into closely adjacent relation to close the cup-acm sure flap comprising an integral extension of the upper-end of said rear wall and of a length toextend across the upper end of said cup and a sub stantial distance along the front wall thereof when said 'cup is collapsed, means on said front wall in substantially spaced relation to the upper end thereof and adaptedto have said-flap anchored thereto when the cup is collapsed and the flap is extending along said wall,and a second means on the rear wall of said cup but spaced above the first mentionedme'ans and adapted to have said flap anchored thereto when the flap is bent rearwardly to be disposed at the outer side of the rear wall of the'cup whereby to have said flap form a handle for said cup.

3. A one-piece molded-in-open-position collapsible drinking cup of flexible and resilient plastic material of the type having the characteristic of elastic memory comprising rectangular front and rear walls connected at their lower ends by an integral hinge connection portion constituting a flexible resilient hinge nor-' mally self-biased open, substantially wedgeshaped gusset-like end walls each having an upper free edge and downwardly convergent side edges, said side edges being respectively connected to the side edges of said front and rear walls by integral hinge connection portions, each constituting a flexible resilient hinge normally selfbiased open, said end walls each having a fold line medially between its side edges along which thehalf-portions of said end wall at each side of said fold line are foldable inwardly upon each other as they are folded inwardly upon said front and rear walls through inward movement of the latter toward each other to closed position, both said first and last mentioned connection portions and said fold lines being placed under tension in said closed position and exerting opening pressure on said front, rear and end walls, a closure flap connected to the upper end of one of said front and rear walls by an integral connection constituting a flexible resilient hinge normally self-biased open to raise said closure flap, and anchoring means on the other of said front and rear walls adapted to cooperate with said closure flap when the cup is collapsed and said flap is extending across the upper end of the cup whereby to retain said cup in closed condition.

4. A one-piece molded-in-open-position collapsible drinking cup of flexible and resilient edges of said front and rear walls by integral hinge connection portions, each constituting a flexible resilient hinge normally self-biased open, said end walls each having a fold line medially between its side edges along which the half-portions of said end wall at each side of said fold line are foldable inwardly upon each other as they are folded inwardly upon said front and rear walls through inward movement of the latter toward each other to closed position, both said first and last mentioned connection portions and said fold lines being placed under tension in said closed position and exerting opening pressure on said front, rear and end walls, a closure flap connected to the upper end of one of said front and rear walls by an integral connection constituting a flexible resilient hinge normally self-biased open to raise said closure flap, anchoring means on the other of said front and rear walls adapted to cooperate with said closure flap when the cup is collapsed and said flap is extending across the upper ,end of the cup whereby to retain said cup in closed condition, said anchoring means comprising downwardly directed hook-like members, and said flap having openings therethrough and through which said hook-like members may pass whereby to secure said cup in closed condition against the tendency of the front and rear walls to move away from one another and against the tendency of said flap to raise.

FRANK R. CUR-TISS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1,034,522 1,089,084 1,116,068 1,296,766 0 1,297,994 1 1,356,995 1,599,128 1,700,065 1,725,093 1,324,508 0 1,995,664 2,036,450 2,037,394 2,075,049 2,107,216 20 2,152,745 2,216,985 2,332,589

Number Name Date Shaw Aug. 6, 1912 Rosenbloom Mar. 3, 1914 Jackson Nov. 3, 1914 Fermier Mar. 11, 1919 Boyer Mar. 25, 1919 Mayer Oct. 26, 1920 Goldburg et al Sept. 7, 1926 March Jan. 22, 1929 Maksik Aug. 20, 1929 Shipman Sept. 22, 1931 Boyes Mar. 26, 1935 Welch Apr. 7, 1936 Rubin Apr. 14, 1936 Niemi Mar. 30, 1937 Rogers Feb. 1, 1938 Klass Apr. 4, 1939 Rice Oct. 8, 1940 Moss Oct. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 20, 1931 

